Internet Image
Internet Image

Internet Image

Internet Image

Internet Image

ZFC3554

Viet Cong Battle Flag - Thanh Phu Island.

Sub-collection: U.S. Army Ranger museum

Viet Cong Battle Flag
This is a genuine Viet Cong battle flag that was captured on the 27th of November 1967 at Thanh Phu Island, Kien Hoa Province, in the Republic of Vietnam. The area was a hotbed of guerilla activity throughout the Vietnam War. The flag was originally taken by the 3/3/12th and donated to the US Army Ranger Museum of New York City.

The Viet Cong fought the US and the South Vietnamese throughout the Vietnam War that lasted from 1959 through to 1975. The Viet Cong was a political organization and it came out on the winning side. Both army units and guerilla units were used by the Viet Cong along with a group of cadres who controlled many peasants who lived in the territory. Lots of soldiers were recruited from South Vietnam and during the Vietnam War in 1960; communists from Southern Vietnam created the National Liberation Front (NLF) to entice non-communists to take part in the war.

The core members of the Viet Cong were known as "regroupees" and these were mainly southern Vietminh who returned to settle in the north of the country after the 1954 Geneva Accord. Military training was provided to the "regroupees" before Hanoi sent them south down the treacherous Ho Chi Minh Trail in the early 60s. The National Liberation Front wanted southerners to "overthrow the camouflaged colonial regime of the American imperialists" and they insisted that a peaceful unification was their primary goal.

The Tet Offensive was the most famous action by the Viet Cong and this was a devastating assault that took place on around 100 urban areas in South Vietnam back in 1968. This offensive included an attack on Saigon's US embassy. The attention of the world's media was captured for many weeks by this fighting but the Viet Cong soon found that they were overextended. Future offensives were primarily conducted by North Vietnamese forces and the group was then dissolved in 1976 and a communist government finally unified North and South Vietnam.

The framed Viet Cong National Liberation Front battle flag came from the US Army Ranger Museum of New York City and is a hand sewn flag with red and blue panels, featuring a yellow star in the center. The frame is a black metal frame and it measures 13-1/2" x 19-1/2". It was sold by the Butterfield & Butterfield in San Francisco, on the 18th of November 1997 in the "Property from the Army Ranger Museum" sale. It was listed on page 115 of that catalog.

It is in fine condition and it is in the same condition as when it was donated by the US Army Ranger Museum of New York City. There is a small hole in the lower left hand corner and two other holes in the center at the bottom of the flag. Another small set of holes can be seen near to the center top area.

Sources:



National Liberation Front (Vietcong), Flags of the World, 10 September 2012, from: http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/vn-vcong.html

Vietcong, Wikipedia, 10 September 2012, from:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viet_Cong

Thanh Phu Island, Wikipedia, 10 September 2012, from:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Thanh Phu Island

Caodaism, 10 September 2012, from:
http://www.wix.com/lamdathoa/intro/page-1

Image Credits:
Zaricor Flag Collection



Hoist & Fly

Width of Hoist 13.5
Length of Fly 20.5

Stars

Comments on Star Measurements Single golden yellow five point star, centered
Size of Stars 7.5

Stripes

Width of 1st Stripe 7
Width of 3rd Stripe 7
Width of Last Stripe 6.5
Size of Hoist 0.5

Frame

Is it framed? yes
Frame Height 14
Frame Length 20.25
Comments on Frame Glazed with glass

Stars

Number of Stars 1
How are the stars embeded? Sewn
Are there stars on obverse? yes
Are there stars on reverse? no
Comments on Stars Single golden yellow five point star, centered. Star is the so-called "star-fish" star with wide arms.
Star Pattern Centered

Stripes

Number of Stripes 2
Color of Top Stripe Red
Color of Bottom Stripe Blue
Has a Blood Stripe? no

Crest/Emblem

Description of Crest/Emblem NLF Flag

Nationality

Nation Represented Vietnam

Fabric

Fabric Cotton

Stitching

Stitching Machine
Comments on Stitching single needle

Thread

Type of Thread Needs Analysis
Thread Material Needs Analysis

Weave

Type of Weave Plain

Attachment

Method of Attachment None

Applica

Applique Sides Single Faced = Mirror Image Reverse

Documentation

Documents
All original documents and drawings are held in the Zaricor Flag Collection Archives.
Drawings
All original documents and drawings are held in the Zaricor Flag Collection Archives.

Condition

Condition Good
Damage used
Displayable yes

Date

Date 1967